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Hakalau woman, 49, dies in crash

A 49-year-old woman from Hakalau was killed Saturday from injuries she received in a two-vehicle crash on Akoni Pule Highway at the 17-mile-marker in the North Kohala District.

The woman was identified as Theresa Doris Pacheco, of a Hakalau address, according to police.

Responding to a 2:56 p.m. call, North Kohala patrol officers determined that Pacheco was operating a 2003 Hyundai two-door sedan and traveling south on Akoni Pule Highway when she came upon a 2013 Ford four-door sedan also traveling south.

Pacheco swerved to the right to avoid a rear-end collision but sideswiped the rear right corner of the Ford.

The Hyundai then ran off the right side of the roadway and overturned. Pacheco was wearing a seat-belt but was partially ejected.

The driver of the Ford, a 62-year-old man from Atlanta, Georgia, was not injured.

Pacheco was transported to the Kona Community Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 8:11 p.m.

It is unknown at this time if alcohol or drugs were involved, but speed was a factor in this crash.

Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have initiated a negligent homicide investigation and have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Officer Larry Flowers at 326-4646, extension 229.

This is the eighth traffic fatality on the Big Island this year compared to one at the same time last year.

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